An old car rusts away on private land near Desert Center, in eastern Riverside County. This area would become part of a renewable energy zone under the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan’s “Preferred Alternative.”(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)Buy Photo

In 2005, I returned home from a deployment to Iraq as an Army photojournalist. No one ever tells you that coming home is one of the hardest parts of serving. Reintegration back into civilian life can take a toll on service members — both mentally and physically.

But luckily, like many service members and veterans, I have realized the benefits of the outdoors to help ease that transition. As a resident of Twentynine Palms, I have explored some of the National Conservation Lands protected through the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP).

Now, the Trump Administration wants to reopen the DRECP. This could create opportunities for developers and corporate mining interests — while ignoring established renewable energy plans, conservation lands, and heritage sites.

I served our country to play a part in leaving behind a better America for future generations and to ensure veterans have a space to heal when they come home.

Instead of opening up additional desert lands to development, let’s give the current DRECP, which was eight years in the making, a chance to work. President Trump and Interior Secretary Zinke must honor that input and give the DRECP a chance to work.

With the flood of anti-Measure C publicity and advertising, including from our own city government, it would be easy to be misled that it is a bad thing. Measure C is democracy at work, the small local home owner against big business.

It’s recently been shown that the anti-C lobby has been funded to the tune of over $300,000 by outside interests vs. only about $32,000 available to the proponents of C. That’s because the people that support and want C are individual Palm Springs homeowners.

It’s also been suggested that a large amount of those owners of rental properties, that are against C, are not citizens of Palm Springs, but outside business interests. They see our town as just a place to make money while allowing our neighborhoods to be turned into mini motel zones.

If you really want to help “drain the swamp,” voting “yes” on C is the place to start.

Stan Cohen, Palm Springs

California and Idaho comparison

I'm a snowbird who lives in Idaho, but spends winters in the desert. I’ve lived most of my life in California. I have some questions for our state politicians.

Why is the cost of electricity per kilowatt double in California than in Idaho?

Why are my property taxes $2,600 in Idaho and $6,700 in California for the same value house?

Why is gas $1.00 higher here? With poorer roads.

Why was my car license fee triple my Idaho fee?

Why are state employees rude and not helpful? In Idaho, they seem to go out of their way to help citizens.

Why do we put up with high costs and poor service from elected officials?

These are valid questions that deserve some answers.

John Thompson, Indio

Pro C group is unrealistic

Last year's draconian, but effective, STR city ordinance addresses most of the concerns they raise, yet the Palm Springs Neighbors 4 Neighborhoods group refuses to acknowledge it –much less give it a chance to work.

The group dismisses the economic damage Measure C would have on the city's budget and to vital services, police, fire, homeless assistance and more, through loss of an estimated $10 million in tax revenues. It would devastate local restaurants and other businesses – and the jobs they create – which rely heavily on visitors for survival. These proponents are clueless if they think that local year-round or part-time residents would fill the void in supporting these visitor-reliant businesses.

And they ignore the fact that 700 short-term rental homes and condo units are on sovereign Indian land and might not be required to abide by Measure C.

Its adoption would invite a whole new level of non-compliance and "black market" short-term rentals – which will generate no transient occupancy tax for the City. The city's Vacation Rental Compliance Department will no longer exist, leaving any and all STR enforcement dependent on diverting local police to respond to complaints.

Bob Elsner, Palm Springs

Renters want STRs here

Not only is this bad for owners, but also for renters.

There is a huge tourist population, and without available properties then they will be forced to go to other local cities and spend their money in those towns. Driving away tourists seems pretty crazy to me.

I am a previous Palm Springs vacation rental landlord, and the yearly demand for renting is huge. It seems like a lot of people who wait until the last minute really struggle to find accommodations, in my experience.

Please save tourism! We need to welcome the tourist into Palm Springs and all the areas.

Rhonda Miller, Palm Springs

Secure our schools

Another school shooting, this time 10 people dead. Some 35 students have died this year alone.

There have been over 200 school shootings since the Sandy Hook massacre. And what has America accomplished to prevent these shootings? Other than debate on Second Amendment rights and mental health, not much.

When our air travel system was attacked, did we debate the banning of explosives? Shoes? Underwear? No! We secured our airports! Wake up civic leaders and secure our schools.

After 20 second graders were killed at Sandy Hook, we should have secured our schools then – all of them. The cost is nothing compared to the young lives we lose with every incident.

Properly secured schools will prevent armed shooters from entering the school buildings. As a flier, a little inconvenience is worth the peace of mind. Once schools are mandated to have proper security, any future incidents are the fault of not only the gun and its possessor, but also the school administration, the school district, the school board, and the local, state, and national governments. Wake up!

Glenn Sigmund, Palm Springs

Veterans and health care

The May 19 letter to the editor, “Veterans forced to do without,” warrants a response and clarification: Eligible veterans do receive excellent dental care by the VA.

Most physicians (including myself) have never taken The Hippocratic Oath. Doctors of Dental Surgery (DDS) are not the same as Doctors of Medicine (MD).

Congress and the administration are continuing to improve health and dental care for veterans.

Many know that I have been active in politics for many years and so I have heard and seen many television commercials and received many flyers to my home. Having said that, I can honestly say that the latest flyer from Jan Harnik takes the prize.

The latest was over the top, Jan! I see it as racist, deceitful, and certainly in the swamp of mud. I have no idea who your consultants are on these, but you are the candidate and therefore you obviously approved this. Therefore, shame on you! Shame! And you want to represent this district as a supervisor?

I sincerely hope the voters will recognize you for what this represents in you and I hope the voters will then vote for the person who has the integrity, the knowledge, the grace to represent us. That person is Victor "Manny" Perez. A representative for ALL of us!

Elle Kurpiewski, Rancho Mirage

Crass vs. class

Crass: Jan Harnik’s recent attack mailer that was full of innuendo, which I saw as wrapped in fear mongering and racism (a majority of the scary-guy pictures clearly seem to show men of color) is crass. While posturing as “tough on crime,” Harnik stokes the fires of fear and racism, which are noted in many studies as triggers for increased community violence. Maybe that’s why the Sheriff’s Association and Deputy D.A.’s Association did not endorse her.

Class: The fact-based, positive, Manny Perez mailer with a friendly Supervisor Perez surrounded by 12 smiling local leaders (elected by you – the Coachella Valley voters) supporting Manny for Supervisor shows the class we want to see in our local politicians. Also included are facts on his background, qualifications, and policy positions. Most notable are the endorsements by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Association and the Deputy District Attorneys Association.

Clearly, our local law enforcement professionals know that Perez will protect us better than Harnik with her hate-mongering ever would.

Manny Perez promises to continue his positive, constructive leadership for us in the Coachella Valley. Vote for V. Manuel Perez.

Priscilla Richardson, Cathedral City

‘Yes’ on C makes sense

I recently received a post card from the Palm Springs Regional Association of REALTORS supporting a no vote on Measure C. The card gives four reasons why you should vote no on C. They say:

Protect your property values: In 2009, we purchased a home in Palm Springs for over $1 million. There were no STRs near us. Now we have two on our block. One is adjacent to our property. If and when we chose to sell, how do we advertise it? “Beautiful, remodeled home adjacent to six-bedroom motel?” How does this protect my property value?

Allow visitors and their families to come to our community: Occupancy rates at current hotels reportedly are running 60-65 percent, and just look at the current construction of new hotels. Doesn’t sound like a problem finding a place to stay.

Maintain our quality of life and the economy of our city: What about my family’s quality of life living next to a motel?

Defend your private property rights: By voting “yes” on C, that is exactly what I intend to do. Motels do not belong in an R1 neighborhood.

Living next to a motel is not what I signed up for. Please help us and vote “yes” on Measure C.

Gary Miller, Palm Springs

A desperate plea

As a full-time resident of Palm Springs, I beg you to approve Measure C.

I live here and, until recently, I loved it here. My residence is on a block that's infested with short-term rentals. I have only a very few neighbors left and I feel betrayed by the City Council that I helped elect. I truly feel that our City Council altered the intent of R-1 zoning for the love of money.

I feel powerless to fight the organizations that have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the "no on C" side. "We" cannot afford to place signs everywhere as the big rental businesses have managed to do, and "we" cannot adequately present our side of a highly emotional and crucial issue, given our limited resources.

Measure C does NOT prohibit rentals. It just prohibits occupancies that are the cause of us losing our neighborhoods and our way of life, and it prevents changing our community into a motel village.

Passing Measure C will not cause us to lose our animal shelter. It won't cause us to lose our police or firefighters or library. What it will do is allow me and other full-time residents to live here.

Rick Fearns, Palm Springs

Council has abandoned me

First, I am a citizen of the United States. Next, that would apply to California and Palm Springs.

If the state and city wish to not follow federal immigration laws and/or are asking our local law enforcement officers to ignore federal procedures, then change those laws through the U.S. Congress. Making up our own individual laws (or that of the state) just weakens law and order in general and that is not good.

Like Measure C, which this City Council is trying to defeat against us year-around residents, and the CV Link, which we apparently can not vote on, this council has its own agenda and I don’t believe that agenda reflects the majority of Palm Springs.

I voted for some of these council members and I’m sorry for that. However, not again for any of them.

His altruistic motives for renting were impressive (i.e. keeping neighborhoods safe and allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty and amenities of Palm Springs). I suspect he offers some very reduced rates for low-income short-term renters.

Paul Seideman, Rancho Mirage

Who started this problem?

I am not a resident of Palm Springs, nor have I lived in the valley long enough to really know and understand fully how the STR issue has developed over time to the extent that it has today. Still, I have been listening and reading various arguments in opposition and in support of the Measure C ballot issue and a few questions continue to surface.

For example, How were STRs ever approved in the first place within R1 residential zoned areas in Palm Springs? Whose responsibility was it/is it in Palm Springs government to maintain R1 integrity?

I’m sure there is a lot of history here and a great story to be told, but certainly an issue in and of itself which should become the topic of a very enlightening discussion. If I had a “dog in the fight”, my vote would certainly be in support of Neighbors for Neighborhoods!

Jack Sterrett, Rancho Mirage

Where else but here?

I am looking for one person who can name me one country in the world that allows: mentally ill, deranged, loners, misfits, juveniles and others in the above classifications to walk into a gun shop or gun show and purchase a weapon of mass destruction without batting an eye or being refused even the purchase of an AR-15.

Keep it up, America. When the Divided States of America collapses and there are only a few left, maybe they will come to their senses and pass complete gun control?